Detroit Lions have big plans for Ziggy Ansah, their first-round pick

Certainly that’s a good indication that the Detroit Lions’ first-round draft pick is making progress.

Ansah, the defensive end from BYU by way of Ghana, has only played football for three seasons.

“He’s got a good feel for the game. ... He has good eyes, you know, he sees the game and he shows up on some plays and amazes me,’’ Lions defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham said on Wednesday.

“He has a unique ability to slip gaps and show up. The tough thing right now is we don’t have pads on. That’s when the real thing’s going to be in front of him. Hopefully, he’ll be as good as we thought he was,’’ Cunningham added.

Ansah is in total agreement with the coordinator about getting the pads on.

“I can’t wait. Right now we’re playing with our hands, we can’t even touch the O-line, (you) lead with your head. Sometimes it’s kind of frustrating,’’ Ansah said. “I can’t wait.’’

Ansah, who is 6-foot-5, enrolled at BYU with hopes of walking onto the basketball team. He couldn’t cut it, but tried football instead. It clicked. After three seasons at BYU he was the fifth overall pick in the NFL draft. The Lions didn’t draft him as a project, they expect him to contribute from the get-go.

“One thing about this kid, I asked him at the Senior Bowl if he’d ever bring his family here. He said no. I asked him some other questions about going to BYU and he didn’t have a scholarship or anything like that,’’ Cunningham said. “I said, ‘OK, that’s good for me.’ Well, what that tells you, he’s all about this game.’’

At BYU, Ansah lined up at several spots along the defensive line. The Lions are asking him just to learn one position. He’s expected to start at right defensive end filling the shoes of Kyle Vanden Bosch.

“I try to be better every single day. The support I have has been great,’’ Ansah said.

Obviously learning one position is easier.

“They asked him to do more things than any college player I’ve ever seen I think in that position,’’ Cunningham said. “He played every position up front and he is very aware of football. I don’t know how he learned all those things that quickly.’’

The Lions coaching staff had a chance to see how quickly he could learn when they coached him at the Senior Bowl. Without that opportunity they might not have taken a chance on him. At that game they had him play just one position.

“Kris (Kocurek, defensive line coach) and I were laughing in the fourth quarter because Kris told me he’s going to be the MVP,’’ Cunningham said. “I said, ‘Well, he’s probably our whole team.’ I mean, he made I don’t know how many tackles, had sacks, knocked the ball down, covered kicks, punts and kickoffs. He does it all. So, now we just have to get that transition into the league to see how he responds in preseason.’’

Mandatory minicamp ends Thursday and the players are off until the end of July for training camp. Then comes time for pads.

“You know, the upside of Ziggy Ansah is his character,’’ Cunningham said. “There is no doubt in my mind about that. Those kids that come over like he does, they’re on a mission. It’s not just, ‘Well, you know, I get a chance to play in the NFL.’ He made a path to go to the NFL and he worked hard to get here. He has tremendous physical talents.’’

Ansah has found new friends among his teammates. Outside of football, he participated in a charity softball game last weekend and a fishing tournament on Monday.

While Ansah was talking to reporters on Wednesday, Willie Young was shouting for Ansah to give him a shout-out. Ansah rolled his eyes and laughed. Young didn’t give up, so Ansah laughed again.

Ansah said Young, also a defensive end, has helped make his adjustment to the NFL easier.

“He’s been a great help, it’s crazy. I love that kid ...,’’ Ansah said. “He’s a really good person and he’s been helpful to me on and off the field.’’